Bandidos president Tony Vartiainen’s son Saxon charged with break and enter

The son of a national bikie gang president is being packed off to rehab after he was charged over his alleged role in a rampage through a high-end luxury brand’s Sydney boutique.

Saxon Vartiainen - the son of Bandidos bikie gang national president Big Tony Vartiainen - has been charged over an alleged break and enter.

The son of the Bandidos’ national president is being released from remand to attend rehab after he was charged over an alleged break and enter at a luxury brand’s Sydney boutique.

A court has heard Saxon Vartiainen, 20, has been remanded in solitary confinement since his arrest over an alleged theft at Sydney’s Fendi boutique due to his father’s bikie associations.

Vartiainen’s father is the Bandidos bikie gang’s national president Big Tony Vartiainen.

The Daily Telegraph does not suggest Mr Vartiainen has any involvement with his son’s criminal proceedings.

The younger Vartiainen was charged with break and enter to steal items worth less than $60,000 after he and another man allegedly robbed the Fendi store in Sydney’s CBD on January 6.

In documents tendered to Downing Centre Local Court, police allege Vartiainen and another male stole five white Fendi T-shirts, a Fendi shopper bag, a Fendi handbag, and Fendi sneakers to the value of more than $13,000.

Sydney’s Fendi store depicted in 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

The Mt Annan man was further charged with having his face blackened to commit an indictable offence, driving while suspended and negligent driving in respect of the incident.

Police will allege a sledgehammer and Fendi apparel were subsequently found at his co-accused’s home after the incident.

Vartiainen had originally sought to have the charges dismissed under the Mental Health Act due to his ADHD, bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder diagnoses.

Magistrate Susan Horan rejected the application – and Vartiainen’s solicitor Zali Burrows instead advanced a bail application to have her client released from prison to attend rehab.

A police prosecutor opposed the application, citing concerns Vartiainen may endanger community safety or flee the jurisdiction due to the possibility of a jail term if he is convicted.

“He has (allegedly) gone through the city in this vehicle on a rampage … he was willing to commit these offences after being deterred twice, and it (raises) a risk of further offending,” the sergeant said.

“It’s a strong brief with excellent evidence from the search warrant – it comes down to sentencing options at the end of it.”

Bandidos national president Big Tony Vartiainen. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Ms Horan said the allegations constituted “serious examples” of this kind of offending as Vartiainen’s mother and the national bikie president sat in court to support their son.

However, noting Vartiainen’s young age and lack of criminal history, she granted him bail on a $10,000 surety to attend Connect Global rehabilitation centre for the next six months.

Ms Burrows told the court Mr Vartiainen and his wife could offer $10,000 as security as they had spent “half of their life savings” on securing their son’s spot in rehab.

Vartiainen will be forbidden to consume alcohol or drugs unless prescribed by a doctor, to have any contact with his co-accused, or to possess his passport while he is on bail.

He is expected to be released to his mother’s custody today to travel to the Hunter Region rehab facility.

Bandidos national president Big Tony Vartiainen. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

In an interview with the Saturday Telegraph last year, Big Tony said he rejected the “gang” tag which accompanies the general description of bikies.

“Police see us as anarchy and lawless, but we have a code of conduct and ethical standards in our constitution,” Mr Vartiainen said.

“We are the 1 per cent of (bikies) that are proper and good.”

Saxon Vartiainen is not accused of having any bikie associations and was remanded in solitary confinement only due to his high-profile father’s associations, the court heard.